THE salutations which follow (chap. 16.) are of the deepest interest, and at the same time most instructive. If Paul had never yet visited Rome, he was nevertheless well acquainted with many who resided there at the time this epistle was written (A.D. 60). Not one of these is forgotten, each holds a place in the apostle’s affections, a place of Honor, too, according to that which grace had wrought in the life of each in connection with Christ and His interests on the earth.
“Phoebe our sister” is the first one mentioned with special commendation. Locally connected with the assembly at Cenchrea, a seaport near Corinth, circumstances possibly of a private nature took her to Rome. At Cenchrea she occupied a more or less official position in connection with the assembly of which she was a minister — not, it is needless to add, a minister of the Word. As a deaconess, for this is the word here used by the Spirit of God, she filled a much-needed post in reference to the assembly; for it can easily be seen that there might be many circumstances where a sister would be more suitable than anyone else to act, especially in a country where great laxity in morals was notorious. The saints at Rome were to receive her in the Lord with all readiness of mind, and to assist her in whatever way they could. She was entitled to this consideration on their part, for many had been helped by her, the apostle himself amongst the number.
Two other familiar names follow, Priscilla and Aquila, with whom the apostle had had close ties of friendship and fellowship in the work of the Lord. They were Jews originally, and had been obliged to leave Rome at the command of Claudius (Acts 13:22As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. (Acts 13:2)); now, six years later, we find them back again, but this time as Christians, and indeed with a Christian assembly in their house. It is beautiful to see how times of persecution awaken the love of saints one towards another; these “helpers in Christ Jesus” had risked their very lives for Paul; they had earned not only his thanks, but that of all the Gentile assemblies.
Then the well-beloved Epenætus is greeted, recalling the apostle’s early labors in Asia, of which he was the first-fruits — for Asia it should be and not Achaia, of which latter place Stephanas had been the first-fruits (1Cor. 16:1515I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,) (1 Corinthians 16:15)).
Others then are mentioned, both men and women, amongst whom we find Paul’s own kinsmen in the flesh, Andronicus and Junia; these had shared imprisonment for Christ’s sake with the apostle; they were of note, not in the eyes of the corrupt and dissolute world, but amongst the apostles, and, it is added, were “in Christ” before God had called Saul of Tarsus and revealed in him His Son.
Amongst the many names that follow, each one with special and differing recognition, we find that of Rufus, whose father, Simon the Cyrenian, had borne the cross after Jesus (Mark 15:2121And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. (Mark 15:21)). What widening circles of divine grace! Simon the father, Rufus the son, and his mother, too, who had moreover acted a mother’s part to Paul. Yet if God acted in mercy, He was sovereign in mercy, for Rufus was “chosen in the Lord,” and there is no word here of Alexander his brother.
Besides those whose names are given there were others, brethren in Christ and saints of God; these are also saluted, all of them (vers. 14, 15), for though there may be, and rightly so, special links in the family of God, especially in connection with the Lord’s service, yet love in the Spirit should flow out to all saints, for “every one that loveth Him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of Him” (1 John 5:11Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1))
How unlike is the ecclesiastical Rome of today from that which existed in apostolic times! It seems incredible that the pomp, grandeur, and worldliness of the Vatican could ever have grown out of this divinely beautiful and simple binning. But evil was already at work in the apostle’s day, and against this he now earnestly exhorts the saints at Rome.
There is nothing which Satan so delights in as to introduce subjects of discord amongst the people of God. Wherever the spirit of division exists, everything in connection with the true service of God is hindered, if not completely paralyzed. Wherever an ungrieved Spirit is working the saints are rooted, built up, and established (Col. 2:77Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:7)); but wherever Satan has been allowed to work, discord, distrust, and division abound.
But how sad to see that the greatest dangers to the peace and prosperity of the people of God come from within. Not the attacks of a precutting world outside, but the self-seeking and ambitions of teachers within are the chief causes of division and stumbling of the people of God. The saints are here exhorted to be vigilant and to turn away from these creators of division. Evidently the great danger lay in the introduction of religious novelties. This made much of the teacher, and might be accompanied with an apparent earnestness and zeal which would deceive the unwary; for it is a sad feature of this kind of evil that far more energy is oftentimes displayed in the dissemination of evil doctrines, than in the spread of the truth. But however specious the teaching, and however devout the teacher may appear to be, of this we are assured, that “they that are such”— that is, they that cause divisions contrary to the doctrine already learned of God — “serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly.” Thus is the vail torn from these false teachers; their words may be good and their speeches fair, but in reality they are deceivers of the hearts of the simple.
In view of the evil doctrines that abound in the present day, a very simple test is here given, namely, “the doctrine which ye have learned.” If an awful responsibility rests upon the teacher, the taught likewise are in need of watchfulness; for it pleases the flesh to dabble in speculative theories, especially when the truth once enjoyed has lost its freshness and charm for the soul. That there should always be progress is admitted; that there should be growth in the knowledge of the truth, and in acquaintance with the mind of God as revealed in Scripture, no spiritual person would deny; but never should this be at the expense of truth already learned from God. Of this we may be assured, that God would never call upon us to give up to-day what we learned from Him yesterday.
It was a comfort to the apostle’s heart to know that a subject spirit was found amongst the saints at Rome; yet he would have them occupied more with the good than the evil. The time was soon to be when all the workings of Satan both within and without should cease, and meanwhile the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was sufficient. Amen.
Salutations then follow from Paul’s companions to the saints at Rome, and with these salutations it is beautiful to see that Tertius hastens to identify himself (ver. 22). It was Paul’s habit to employ an amanuensis, and to sign each letter or epistle with his own hand (2 Thess. 3:1717The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. (2 Thessalonians 3:17)). Once only, because of the serious nature of the subject in hand, did he depart from this rule. The whole principle of the gospel was at stake in the erroneous teaching that was coming in at Galatia, and with the energy of anxious affection he writes the whole epistle with his own hand (Gal. 5:1111And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. (Galatians 5:11)).
It may not be that Gaius had any particular gift in preaching or teaching, but he held an honored place in the assembly of God for his hospitality, extended not only to Paul but to the whole Church. The flesh might have found its pleasure in ministering to an apostle, but grace alone could lead one to place his means at the disposal of “the whole assembly.” What unselfish interest in others flows from a knowledge of the true grace of God!
The epistle closes in the form of a doxology containing an allusion to Paul’s special ministry of the gospel, and of the mystery of the Church. This latter is not here unfolded as it is in the Ephesians, for the object of the epistle to the Romans is more the individual relation of the soul to God. But nevertheless Paul’s gospel cannot be separated from the revelation of the mystery, for the great truth of the union of the Church with Christ was made known to him when grace first called him in those marvelous words, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” — the persecuted saints on earth were one with Christ in glory. This mystery which had been kept secret since the world began was now by prophetic writings made manifest, and, through the special instrumentality of Paul, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.
How sad that in our day saints are found who readily accept so much of the gospel as will give peace to the conscience, and yet in their ecclesiastical associations reject all obedience to what God has revealed in reward to the Church A. H. B.